Duterte favors same-sex marriage

President Duterte appeared to have turned into an LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) advocate overnight when he told the 7th LGBT Davao year-end gathering at Azuela Cove in Davao City that he was against gender discrimination.

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Saying he had two gay brothers-in-law, Mr. Duterte on Sunday said that he was open to having gay Cabinet members and was even for changing the law to allow same-sex marriage in the Philippines.

The President also urged the LGBT community to nominate a representative that he could appoint to the Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor.

“I want gay marriage. The problem is we have to change the law, but we can change the law,” Mr. Duterte said in his speech.

He said the Family Code limited marriage between a man and a woman.

He said he did not have a problem with a man marrying a man “or whatever is the predilection of the human being.”

“I am for (same-)sex marriage if that is the trend of the modern times. If that will add to your happiness, I am for it … who am I … you know, whatever makes the person happy, I will give it. Why should I hold it back?” he said.

“Why impose a morality that is no longer working and almost passé. It’s leftover rice,” he said.

‘No oppression’

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The influential Catholic Church is opposed to same-sex marriage but the President said “there will be no oppression” during his term and the government would recognize the LGBT community’s “importance in society.”

The President even joked about toying once with the idea of becoming bisexual so that he could “have fun both ways but that did not happen.”

“I have two brothers-in-law who are gay. When I was in high school, I did not know if I wanted to be a girl or a boy,” Mr. Duterte said.

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